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April 30, 1929. A. E. sMALl.

DROP DOOR FOR RAILWAY CARS Filed Sept. l, 1927 s m ,IIHHLW Ill" 8 af :du ,.1T H, .1 #1 H v F u u m Uv Uv Vt Mv Uv z v w (n /2 J 1 m IVM', ......u........|u.||:...,

]1 1 v Billar Q torny UN l TEE TAFE S ARTHUR E. SIVIALL, lGF CHICAGO, ILLNOQS. ASSIGNQR TO UNINI METAL PRODUCTS COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOS DROP DOOR FOR Application filed' September The invention relates to a railway dump car having a door forming a part 'of Vthe car for retainingr the load therein which vdoor is provided With hinges-adjacent one of its edges and is capable ofwbeing droppcd or swungrvopen'so that the load in discharging'` slides or' passes over the upper surface of the door. Any means 'of `raisingl the door to' the closedposition and any `means for loc-knap,` and releasingthe :door may' Abe employed With-my device.

A door 'forthis purpose must be very strong and durable because:

-First, it is apart of the floor of the car and vasfsuch must sustain the `load aswell as the impact blow ofthe loadwvhcn the car is in motion. -Second,'the car is `frequently loaded from chutes orY tipples from a height of ten feet or more, causingthe load to be dropped directly upon the doors. Third, clam shell buckets are =frequently used to unload such. cars and -it :is not-:uncommon for these buckets to rest" upon and drag' Vv-'er the doors. Fourth, Wlien'thedoor vsuddenly comes to rest-after being'dropped, it is notfonly subjected to a-'severe shock but itmust sustain thesevere impact thrust of the load which 'of coursel follows: the door. Fifth, asthe load is theoretically 'equally distributed, the Pdoor must bestrong over its entire'area and must be capableV of transn'iitting' the 'resii'lting stresses to the car body Without much kdeflection and no substantial distortion. Any *bending ofVthe-door'or drooping); the corners Would'cause a leak of the lading-especially =ofsuch fine ymaieifial as sand, chatsyetc. Any bending or warping@ might interfere- With'vthe complete closingvand -locking of the door.

As it costs as much `to haul a ton of oar as it .does to-haul aton of paying freight, it is'iinperative that the car and any part thereofbe as light as possible. vFurtherniere, the total weight of the carand freight determined-by the strength of certain standard axles, -so'that the lighterf the car the greater amount of freightfazgiven ear lwill be allowed to carry.

An object Iisto form.: a metallic door with integral corrugations or ribs Which impart to it a certain amount of streng-th and rigidityto resist loads imposedl thereon and igiene.

iF l

, A CGRPIR.fflONn OF DELAWARE.

RAILWAY CARS.

1, 1927. iSerialNo. 216,963.

to so vform the ends of the corrugations or ribs as to provide a certain'aniountfof resili ency to enable the door to deflect-and return to its normal positionwvithout appreciable amount off permanent distortion.

:Another object is to form 'and arrange a plurality of corrugations 1in a-metal'lic doorso as toobtain a vdesired proportion betweenstrength, rigidity andl resiliency.

Another object is -to-obtain this result with the leastI amount of raw material and to provide a finishedA article of the least possible Weight lconsistent with strength requirements. l

Another object is to obtain the desired strength, rigidity andfresiliency by forming a hopper door of a metallic plate With integral corrugations vor ribs which taper in Width toward their oppositeends and other preferably alternate corrugations or ribs which project Vin the =oppositefdirection therefrom and-Which'inc-rease in Width toward their opposite ends, the-oppositeendsl of the last fmenti-oned f'corrugations being formed to provide 'a certain amount Aof resiliency to enable the plate tofdeflect and return to its normal position Without appreciable -permanent fdistortion.

'Another object is to form a hopper door of a metallic plate With-'a plurality of cor- 'rugations which are all -ofthe same `depth and of equal depth for' the major' portion of their Alength so as to 'form asubstandaily-flush surface onone side of the' plate and toalso Jform the platewith corrugations positioned preferably alternately therebetween -which are deepest adjacent their middle'and decrease indepth toward their opposite ends. vrAnother object is to merge' the Vadjacent portions of the opposite-ly projecting corrugations into each other so as to provide, Yin effect,` aplurality of Corrugations having'a depth equal to the total depth of the -oppositely projecting corrugations Another object-is to provide such a corrugated metallic door which can be Iformed by pressinrf it (when heated, if necessary) between l' s which movev toward each other in one du cl3-ion only. rEhe. advantages otrniy door-'are .applicable` to any ldoor of a 'freight car, such asrdrop bottoni generalrservice cars (used in the drawings), hopper cars, swinging side doors or hopper bottom coal cars, ete.

In the drawings:

Fig. lv shows a portion ot a railway car 5 with mydevice applied thereon.

Figs. 2 and 3 are sections on line 2-2 and line respectively ot Fig. l.

4 and 5 are sections on line le--l and limx respectively of Fig. l with the car lo parts omitted.

Figs. G, 7 and S are sections similar to Figs. 3, 4, and 5 but show the major corrugations with an arcuate configuration.

To illustrate one adaptation of my device, I have shown a so-called general service drop bottom gondola carwherein the major portion of the floor consists of drop doors. The door'` openings are surrounded by the center construction, side wall and 'cross diaphragms. In normal or closed polisitionthe doorcompletely closes this opening and in tact is a trifle larger on all sides than the opening so as tov provide a lap jointvbetween the door and the car traine members. The doors are hinged to the center construction and are supported ad jacent the sido wall by the raising or locking mechanism. Any convenient stop may be used toizlimit the downward movement o the door.

The plate is formed of integral corrugations or ribs 2 (called embossments) and 3 (called depressions) projecting alternately in opposite-.directions (upwardly and downwardly) and preferably having their sides Il merginginto the adjacent corrugations so as to provide, in effect, a plurality of parallel corrugations having dept-h equal to the total dept-h of the oppositely projecting 4o corrugations. Fora space 6 equi-distant on each side of their middle the corrugations are spaced apart distances equal to their' widths so that the neutral aXis oi the corrugated section is midway between the bound- .15. ing planes of the corrugated structure. The apices 7-8 of the corrugations are prefer ably .arched so as to transmit any load i1nposed upon them to the opposite side walls A l ofV the 'corrugations. 'This arched formation rhas' the further advantage of reducing thestretc'h Vof the metal in pressing the corrugations-in the plate. I have used the terms embossments and depressions in the specication and* claims te avoid confusion and dilerentiate between the corrugationsprojecting Yone way from the original plane 9 of the plate and those projecting in the opposite direction thereto, but otherwise I contemplate no difference in the meanin of the terms.

In theconstruction illustrated the embossments 2 have a constant. width and dej` th 1p'or a space 6 equi-distant on each side of the middle -of the plate and then decrease in width (andpreferahly also in depth) until (lil their opposite en they merge into the original plane t) oi the plate.

The depressions 3 are preferably po" `oned alternately between the embossments Z and preferably have a constant width and depth for space 6 equi-distant on each side of the middle of the plate. eorrespondiiw 'to eni- 'oossinent 2 and then preferably nia .rain a constant depth laut increase in width toward .s proportionately to the decrease in width of the enihossments so that the adjacent sides e of the emhossments and depressions are parallel, and in the pr' erred form, these sides merge into each other for substantially the entire length et these elements.

The extremities of the depressions 3 are split or divided to form ribs l1 which de-V crease in dept-h and also preferably in Width toward the middle of the depressions. The embossments, depressions and ribs merge into each other adjacent their extremities so as to Vform a sinuous configuration, as shown in Figs. 5 and 8, wherein the several divided port-ions l2 of the lepre 90 sions are spaced apart distances equal to their width so that the neutral axis is inidway between the bounding planes ot the corrugated structure. The depressions are provided with terminal portions which 95 merge into the original plane of the plate.

The various contours of the corrugations are such that the lengths ot the cent-er lines of the metal at all cross sections of the corrugated portion of the plate normal to the corrugations are equal.. Furthermore, the metal so disposed as to provide the required strength at any cross section thereof to sustain an equally distributed load.

Fig. l shows the embossments 2, depressions 3 and the ribs l1 which bifnreate the depressions at their opposite ends.

' he embossinents and depressions may be oi equal depth or one group may be deeper than the other group to suit conditions. In the form illustrated the embossments shallower than the depressions.

Figs. 8, 4 and 5 show the depressions and embossment #ith flat apices forming truncated configuration and Figs. 6, Y and 1i. 8 show a modiied form wherein the. depressions ai :l embessmentsl have arcuate apices forming a sinuous configuration.

It is understood that the embossments or corrugations may extend normally like to those illustrated in the drawings, or even. diagonally, and still come within the scope of the invention and, furthermore, while I have described and claimed a single plate, it is understood that the door may be made ot a plurality ot united plates and still come within the scope ot the invention.

The marginal portion 9 or portions) may be provided with Vlr-.nges so as to turther stillen the sides of the door against delict:-

tion under load and to stitfen the entire door. against buckling or distortion.

@This is a continuation in part of my application Serial No. 120,732, tiled July (L '1926.

wherein I-have disclosed and claimed broadln part of my application Serial No. 120- 72. filed July 6. 1926.) I have specifically disclosed and claimed the use ot' such a structure as a side door for a railway car.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the preferred form of the invention, though it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shown and described. as it is obvious that various modifications thereof within the scope of the claims will occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim:

l. In a railway car having a door opening. a door hinged adjacent one edge thereotl and supported at the opposite edge thereof, said door comprising a metallic plate provided with a plurality of embossments decreasing in width toward their endsr and terminatingr within the plate adjacent oppo site edges of the door and a plurality of depressions increasing in width toward theiiI ends and terminatingr within the plate adjacent opposite edges of the door, said embossments and depressions projecting in opposite directions from the original plane of the plate.

2. In a railway car having a door opening, a door hinged adjacent one edge thereof and supported at' the opposite edge thereof, said door comprising a metallic plate providedwith a plurality of embossments decreasing in width toward their ends and terminating within the plate adjacent opposite edges of the door and a plurality of depressions increasing` in width toward their ends and terininating within the plate adjacent opposite edges of the door, said embossments and depressions projecting in opposite directions from the original plane ol the plate, the ends of the depressions being,r divided to form ribs.

3. ln a railway car having a door a door hinged adjacent one edge thereof and supported at the opposite edge thereof, said door comprising a metallic plate provided with a plurality of en'ibossments decreasing in width toward their ends and terminating' within the plate adjacent opposite edges of the door and a plurality of depressions increasing in width toward their ends and tern'iinating within the plat adjacent opposite edges of the door., said embossments and depressions projecting in opposite directions from the original plane of the plate,

opening,

the ends of the depressions being divided to form ribs, saidembossments, ribs and divided portions of the depressionsall being the same with adjacent said opposite edges.

l. In a railway car having a door opening, a door hinged adjacent one edge thereof and supported at the opposite edge thereof, said door comprisii'ig a metallic plate provided with a plurality oll embossments dccreasing in width toward their ends and terminating within the plate adjacent opposite edges of the door and a plurality of depressions increasing in width toward their ends and terminating within the plate adjacent opposite edges of the door, said ein-- nossments and depressions projecting in opposite directions from the original plane of the plate, the ends of the depressions being divided to form ribs, said embossments and depressions being equal in width adjacent their medial line.

5. In a railway car having a door opening. a door hinged adjacent one edge thereof and supported aty the opposite edge thereof, said door comprising a metallic plate provided with a plurality of emhossmeuts decreasing in width toward their ends and terminating within the plate adjacent opposite edges of the door and a plurality of depressions increasing in width toward their ends and tern'iinating within the plate adjacent opposite edejes of the door` said embossments and depressions projecting in opposite directions from the original plane of the plater` the ends of the depressions being divided to form ribs. said embossments and depressions being equal in width and of constant width equi-distant on opposite sides of the medial line.

t3. ln a railway car having a door opening, a door hinged adjacent one edge thereof and supported at the opposite edge thereof. said door comjin'ising a metallic plate provided with a plurality of embossments decreasing in width toward their ends and terminating within the plate adjacent opposite edges of the door and a plurality of depressions positioned alternately therewith increasing in width toward their ends and terminating within the plate adjacent opposite edges of the doom said embossments and depressions projecting in opposite directions from the original plane of the plate, the ends ol the depressions being divided to form ribs with the sides of the embossinents merging into the adjacent sides o'l' the depressions.

7. In a railway car having a door opening. a door hinged adjacent one edge thereof and supported at the opposite edge thereol' said door comprising a metallic plate provided with a plurality of embossments decreasing in width toward their ends and terminating within the plate adjacent opposite edges of the door and a plurality of depressions positioned alternately therewith increasing in Width toward their ends and terminating Within the plate adjacent opposite edges ot the door, said enihossinents and depressions projecting in opposite ii-- ret-tions from the original platte ot the plate, the ends ot the depressions being divided to torni rihs with the sides ot the emhossnients` merging into the adjacent sides ot the, depressions tor substantially the entire length ot these elements.

8. In a railway car having a door opening. a door hinged adjacent one edge, thereof and supported at the opposite edge thereol` said door comprising a metallic plate provided With a plurality ot einbossments decreasing in width and in depth toward their ends and terminating Within the plate adjacent opposite edges of the door and a plurality of depressions incriasing in width toward their ends and terminating within the plate adjacent opposite edges ol the door.y said embossinents and depressions pro-- jecting in opposite directions from the original plane ot the plate the ends ot the depressions being divided to torni rihs.

9. In a railway car having a door opening` a door ninged adjacent one edge thereotl and supported at the opposite edge thereof, said door comprising a metallic plate provided with a plurality of emhossnients de creasing in width toward their ends and terminating within the plate adjacent opjmsite edges ot the door and a plurality ot depressions ot constant depth the major portion ot their length and increasing in Width toward their ends and terminating within the plate adjacent opposite edges ot the door. said einhossments and depressions projecting in opposite directions from the original plane of the plate. the ends ot'. the de,- pressions heing divided to form ribs.

l0. In a railway car having a dootl opening. a door hinged adjacent one edge thereof and supported at the opposite edge thereof, said door comprising a metallic plate provided with a plurality ot etnloossinents d ecreasing in Width toward their ends and terminatine; Within the plate adjacent opposite edges ot the door and a plurality of depressions positioned alternately therewith et constant depth the major portion ot their length and increasing in Width toward their ends and terminating within the plate adjacent opposite edges ot the door` said embossments and depressions projecting in opposite directions troni the original plane oi' the platen the ends ot the depressions heing divided to forni rilos.

11. In aY railway car having a door opening. a door hinged adjacent one edge thereof and supported at the opposite edge thereof, said door comprising a metallic plate provided With a plurality ot emhossrnents decreasing in width toward their ends and terminating Within the plate adjacent opposite edges ot the door and a plurality of depressions jmsitioned alternately therewith ot constant depth the major portion ot their length and increasing in width toward their ends and terminating `rithin the plate adjacent opposite edges ot tlte doom .said emhossments and depressiens ptnjecting in opposite directions Yfrom the original plane ot' the pla e` the ends el the depressions heilig' divided to torni ribs, said einhossntents, ribs and divided portions of the dejen'essions all being the sante Width adjacent said opposite edge t said einhessntents and depressions heing equal in Width adjacent their medial line with the sides ot the enthossnients merging into the adjacent Lides et the depressions for stilrttantiaily the entire length ot these elements.

l2. ln a raihtay c; haring a door opena door hinged adjacent one edge thereof and supported at the apposite edge thereof, said door comprising a metallic plate termed with a plurality o?" etnnossnients which detcrease in depth reward their opposite ends and terminate within the plate adjacent opposite edges et the doar, said plate also lornied with a pl traiity o'll depressions ot eonstant depth the tnajnr pertion ot their length and terminating within the plate adjacent said opposite edges at the door, said `llll e hossments and depressions projecting in opposite directions trom the original plane ot the plate.

lil. In a railway car having a door opening, a door hinged afliaeent ene edge thereol" and r-:upjiorted at the opposite edge there-- ot, said dear comprising a metallic plate formed .vith a plurality ofv elnhossnients which decrease in depth toward their opposite ends and terminate Within the plate adjacent opposite edges ot the door, said plate also tornied with a plurality ot de pressions po,-=itioned alternately therebetween ot'Y constant depth the niajor portion of their length and tt,..-inatin;' Within the plate adjacent said opt 4site ot the door. said einboss 1 *nts and depressions projecting in opposite directions from the original. plane et the plate.

lili. ln a railrt'ay ear having a door opening; a. door hinged adjacent one edge thereof and supported at the tippt: te edge thereot'. said door conmrising a metallic plate tornied with a plurality ot einhosstnents ot constant depth for a short distance adjacent their middle which decrease in depth toward their opposite ends and terminate within the plate adjacent opposite edges ot the door, said plate also Ytornted with a plurality ot depres sions ot' constanty depth the major portion ot their length and terminating within the plate adjacent said oppofj te edges ot the ltlt) door, said emhossments and depressions projecting in opposite directions from the original plane ot the plate.

15. In a railway car having a door opening, a door hinged adjacent one edge thereof and supported at the opposite edge thereof, said door comp isingr` metallic plate formed with a plurality ot corrugations projecting in opposite directions trom the original plane of the plate, some ot' which have their opposite ends divided so as to provide a relatively rigid structure adjacent the middle of the door and a relatively resilient structure adjacent opposite edges of the door.

1G. In a railway car haring a door opening, a door hinged adjacent one edge thereof and supported at the opposite edge thereof, said door comprising a metallic plate formed with a plurality ot corrugations projecting in opposite directions troni the original plane ot the plate, some ot which have their opposite ends divided so as lo provide a relatively rigid structure adjaient the middle ot the door which gradually becomes a relatively resilient structure mljacen opposite edges ot the door.

17. In a railway car having a door openA ing, a door hinged adjacent one edge thereof and supported at the opposite edge thereof,

said door comprising a metallic plate formed with a plurality of corrugations projecting in opposite directions from the original plane of the plate which are relatively deep adjacent their middle portions, some of which have their opposite ends divided to torni a greater number of relatively shallow corrugations adjacent their end portions so as to provide a relatively rigid structure adjacent the middle of the door and a relatively resilient structure adjacent the opposite edges of the door.

18. In a railway car having a door opening, a door hinged adjacent one edge thereof and supported at the opposite edge thereof, said door comprising a metallic plate formed with a plurality ot corrugations projecting in opposite directions from the original plane of the plate which are relatively deep and relatively Wide adjacent their middle portions, some of which have their opposite ends divided to form a greater number of relatively shallow and relatively narrow corrugations adjacent their end portions, so as Vlo provide a relatively rigid structure adjacent the middle of the door and a relatively resilient; structure adjacent the opposite edges ol the door.

ARTHUR E. SMALL. 

